Spring-hub.



D. SMAIL.

l SPRING HUB. APPLICATION FILED MA YV9, 1911.

Patented Nov. 12,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

aUZZZ wd coLummA PLANoaRAm-x ca. w NNNNNNNNNNN c.

D. SMAIL.

SPRING HUB.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 9, 191i.

Patented Nov.12, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

j@ @a i 'l Le coLuMBlA PLANOGRAPH CO..WASHINGTON, D, c,

DAVID SMAIL, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

SPRING-HUB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

Application Afiled. May 9, 1911. Serial No. 625,969.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, DAVID SMAU., a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of fMissouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring-Hubs, ofwhich the following is a specication.

The invention relates to vehicle wheels, and more particularly to theclass of spring wheels or resilient hubs therefor.

\ by the wheel, during the travel of the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a spring wheel inwhich the requisite resiliency is obtained, without destroying thestrength of the wheel to sustain heavy loads, thus the wheel will absorball shocks and jars incident to the travel of the same when passing overirregular surfaces in the ground.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a vehicle wheel,in which any longitudinal thrust of the vehicle will be absorbed, thusrelieving the same from sudden strain, thereby increasing the life` ofthe vehicle.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a vehiclewheel, which is simple of construction, thoroughly reliable and eiicientin its purpose, and inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, com bination and arrangement of parts, as will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle wheelconstructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a verticaltransverse sectional elevation of the wheel. Fig. 4 is a section on theline 4 4 of Fig. l.

, Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the spring wheel comprises acenter hub 5 which is of the ordinary wellfknown construction, adaptedto receive the spindle 6 of a vehicle axle, the spindle 6 aad likewisethe bore in the hub 5 being correspondingly squared, although the samemay be circularshaped; thus in the latter instance, the hub 5 willrevolve on the spindle, while in the first instance, said hub willrotate with the spindle. `Formed medially in the exterior surface of thehub 5 is an annular groove 7, and in juxta-position relative thereto andat opposite sides thereof, are circular lianges 8, between which andengaging in the groove 7, is acircular-shaped member or disk 9,containing spaced circular-shaped openings lO `concentrically disposedwith respect to the hub 5, the member or disk 9 being suitably bolted orotherwise fixed to the flanges 8, thus making it stationary and aunitary part of the hub.

Arranged concentrically with respect to the hub 5, and at opposite sidesof the circular-shaped member or disk 9, are outer ring members 1l, thesame being joined at their outer peripheral edges at intervals by meansofcross webs l2 which serve to hold the ring members llin alinement witheach other. Suitably fixed to the outer faces of the ring members ll areradially extending spokes 13, to the outer ends of which is fixed afelly or rim 14, t-he latter carrying a tire l5 of any ordinarywell-known construction.

Formed on or suitably fixed at diametrically opposite points of the ringmembers 11, at their `outer faces, are L-shaped bearings 16, betweenwhich and the hub 5 are disposed coiled compression springs 17, the samebeing of the required tensile strength, and each has one end suitablyfixed to the adjacent bearingl, while its opposite end is for cushioningshocks and jars or longitudinal thrust imposed upon the wheel lwhentraveling.

Formed on the inner peripheral edges of the ring members l1 are aliningspaced parallel ears 18, through which are passed bolt members 19, thelatter intersecting the openings l0.in the.. circular-shaped member# or,

disk 9, and between these ears 18 and loosely carried bythe bolts 19a`re5 friction rollers,

20, which are adapted to contact with the walls of the openings 10 inthe said member-` or disk 9 on displacement of the ring mem-.7. bersu11;` relative to the,v latter during` the.,

travel of a vehicle wheel.

Connected with the cross webs 12 uniting' the ring members 11 areratchet pawls 21,

ing inthe notches 23 in the circular-shapedv member or disk 9,- willlockthe latteri'to the ring members 11, so as to cause theA said ringmembersl1.- to rotate withlthe disk 9 when the Vehicle wheel is being drivenor` traveling in one direction. However, upon reverse rotation ofuthehub 5, the pawls'21 will disengage from the notches 23,` so that thesprings ll will become tensioned, there,- bypulling upon the ringmembers 1l to compensate for strain exerted upon the vehicle wheel.

From the Joregoing, it is thoughtthatthe construction and operationofthe invention willbe thoroughly'understood, without rehaving spacedsubstantially circular shaped openings concentrically about the hub,iianges on said hub and at opposite sides of the disk, means passedthrough the flanges and' disk forA uniting the lsame, f

ratchetfteeth formed on the'outer periphery off the disk, ring membersarranged concentric to saidanges and at opposite sides ofthedisk,kspring held -pawls pivotally supported iby th'e ring members andworking bctween the same for engagement with the ratchet` teeth, rollersrotatablyA connected with-.the ring members andworking in the saidopenings in the disk and adapted to limitgtlie displacement of the hubrelative to-v saidf ring- Y members, compression springs actingupon the.hub 4and said ring Amembers to holdthe saidhub normally centered `withrelation to the ring members, andeentering lugs carriedIby--the hubandiring members respectively and engaged=in the ends oi the springsfor'holding the same.

In vtestimony \vl1ereof-'laliix my signature in presence vof'twowitnesses.

` DAVID SB'AIL. Witnesses:

JOSEPH W. JoHivsoN, FRED A. VV-ENTWORTH.

